Children’s Bureau Finalizes Rules for LGBTQI+ Youth

On April 30, the Children’s Bureau issued final regulations instituting new protections for LGBTQI+ youth in foster care. The new rules establish a mechanism for families to qualify as Designated Placements for LGBTQI+ youth, direct states to provide LGBTQI+ youth with information about such placements, and direct states to ensure that these youth have access to such placements. According to the Human Rights Campaign, which advocated for these rules, approximately one out of every three youth in foster care is LGBTQ+. The new rules are effective July 1, 2024. Title IV-E and IV-B agencies must implement the provisions by October 1, 2026.